The number of major crimes in Nassau County’s 3rd Precinct fell 9 percent in 2016 — with declines in homicides, rapes and criminal sexual acts.
There were 1,865 major crimes in the precinct, down from 2,058 in 2015, according to data provided by the Nassau County Police Department.
But total crime rose 3 percent from 8,047 to 8,293.
The 3rd Precinct stretches from Manorhaven in Port Washington south to East Garden City including Roosevelt Field and from New Hyde Park east to New Cassel.
Major crime in Nassau County was down 8.7 percent, and total crime was down 1.6 percent, according to county police.
“The statistics speak for themselves. With crime down another 8.7 percent this year, it’s evident that the brave men and women of the Nassau County Police Department work tirelessly to combat crime and keep our neighborhoods safe,” Nassau County Executive Mangano said.
“Nassau is one of the safest large suburban counties in America and significantly safer than it was seven years ago,” he said. “That said, my administration will continue to invest the resources needed to maintain public safety and protect our residents from the unprecedented times in which we now live.”
Although there has been a downward trend in crime in Nassau County, the police report did not specify the number of drug-related arrests as Long Island confronts a heroin epidemic.
But the department’s heroin arrests log showed that there were 853 heroin-related arrests in Nassau County in 2016, with a large portion of them occurring in the 3rd Precinct.
“The nature of the crime seems to have changed, which was not captured in the crime statistics,” said Nassau County Comptroller George Maragos, who has been critical of the department’s management and switched parties recently to run for county executive as a Democrat.
Homicides in the 3rd precinct dropped from three to one, rapes dropped from eight to three and criminal sexual acts fell from two to zero.
Sexual abuse crimes and felony assaults were the only major crimes to rise in the precinct, growing from four to six and 104 to 110, respectively.
“The department’s predictive-policing methods are working and we owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women of the Nassau County Police Department who are out there each and every day, getting the job done and ensuring the safety of everyone here in Nassau County,” acting Commissioner Thomas Krumpter said.
Commercial robbery in the 3rd Precinct fell 33 percent, from 68 to 45, and other robbery crimes went down 27 percent, from 77 to 56.
Both major burglary crimes dropped, too — with residential burglaries down 32 percent, from 282 to 189, and other burglaries down 4 percent, from 110 to 105.
Grand larceny — the most committed crime in the precinct — fell 3 percent, from 1,288 in 2015 to 1,247 last year.
Although the number of stolen vehicles increased 2 percent county-wide, it dropped 8 percent from 112 to 103 in the 3rd Precinct, which recently got a new commanding officer, Insp. Daniel Flanagan, who replaced Deputy Chief John Berry.
Efforts to reach Flanagan were unavailing.
In 2012, the 3rd Precinct was merged with the former 6th Precinct, now know as the 3rd North Subdivision, which covers Manhasset, Roslyn and parts of Port Washington and Great Neck.
Local politicians and civic leaders have called for an undoing of the merger, saying police service has suffered.
The county said with its advances in technology and enhanced crime-fighting models, it has “made advances in the light of recent terror attacks and threats around the globe.”
The Police Department has also said it improved its training exercises and purchased high-powered rifles to respond better to active shooter situations.
“I view policing as a number one county responsibility, and I give a hats off to NCPD on major crime stats being down — it’s always good news and to be celebrated,” said Richard Bentley, president of the Council of Greater Manhasset Civic Associations. “At the same time, many do see a need to focus on quality of life issues as well as our growing epidemic of drug overdose deaths that are often not captured in police major crime stats, yet these do affect and remain a concern in the daily lives of many residents in all Nassau communities. “
Reach reporter Stephen Romano by e-mail at sromano@theislandnow.com, by phone at 516.307.1045 x214. Also follow us on Twitter @stephenromano13 and Facebook at facebook.com/theislandnow.
